Continuing education for school media specialists will continue to be necessary as these professionals develop specific learning needs. In identifying these needs, media specialists must evaluate their current performances, based on accepted definitions of competency, and then take personal responsibility for acquiring what education they need.…

Describes the Continuing Library Education Network and Exchange (CLENE) Inc. Voluntary Recognition Service which evaluates continuing education activities for information, library, and media specialists. The scope of the service and its relationship to existing educational programs is discussed. (BK)

Describes a model designed to expedite the communication of information from the nurse researcher to the practicing nurse actively involved in health care. The four model components, recruitment, translation, dissemination, and evaluation, are discussed in detail. (CT)

Explains the issues involved in the drive for maintenance of competence and the establishment of a national professional development registry for engineers. Discusses a system that serves as a model of procedures designed to control the profession by the profession in cooperation with state licensing agencies. (GA)

Describes how a collaborative group of four universities, five further education colleges, and independent providers of professional continuing education in Northeast England provides a forum for professional support, development, and updating for course tutors. (SK)

In the view of a continuing education unit in a rural health education center in Australia, competency-based training emphasizes what a person can actually do as a result of training. Professional continuing education courses are being developed using accredited guidelines from the national Vocational Education Training Assessment Board. (SK)

National surveys of telehealth networks, 1994-99, examined program characteristics; clinical activities (telemedicine); nonclinical activities related to continuing medical education, paraprofessional training, health promotion, administration, and research; technology; and barriers to growth and sustainability. Despite growing utilization,…

Of 300 surveyed, responses from 94 nurses, 38 occupational therapists, and 50 physical therapists indicated that professional knowledge was a prime motivation for continuing professional development, followed by updating qualifications, increasing the status of the profession, and demonstrating professional competence. No differences were observed…

Coded interview results from 24 occupational and physical therapists identified their approaches to continuing education. They valued formal learning and were concerned about limited availability. They relied on informal peer consultations. Only seven used systematic information seeking and evaluation methods. Economic, administrative, and…

In a needs assessment of 84 rural health care professionals (44.1% physicians, 15.5% pharmacists, 14.3% nurses, 26.1% other), 39% considered their geriatrics knowledge above average. They were interested in learning more about Alzheimer's/dementia, medication use, and adverse effects. Preferred methods were videotapes, CD-ROM, and an…

Multisource or 360-degree feedback on physician performance can improve the quality of health care if carefully designed and implemented. Communication about data use should be clear and the instrument should have appropriate psychometric properties. It is useful for assessment of interpersonal, communication, professionalism, or teamwork…

Literature review and interviews with nine public health and nursing education informants in Britain indicated that, although National Health Service policy highlights public health, clinical placements in this area are limited and curriculum content needs to be applicable to public health. Needs assessments show skills gaps in practicing nurses…

Nine studies that examined the use of referral reply letters that transferred information from specialists to referring physicians were analyzed. Although research indicates that physicians are receptive to such letters as sources of learning, little educational content was actually included in the letters. (Contains 39 references.) (SK)

Efforts to address the information management problems of physicians include the Cochran reviews of the effectiveness of health care interventions and international clinical practice guidelines. A better theoretical base is needed to guide the choice of effective dissemination strategies. (Contains 18 references.) (SK)

Needs assessment for a continuing medical education (CME) intervention directed at increasing breast cancer screening of women over 50 included a survey of target primary care physicians (n=323) to explore areas of interest for CME in breast care detection and to establish baseline screening practices. A survey of 1,440 women in the target age…